Not only are the dynamic committee renowned for going the extra mile, but had extra acres too after an adjacent 20-acre field was leased to cater for this ever-expanding show.
Visiting British judges are another Charleville feature and this year’s articulate group were unanimous in their praise of the young competitors. Daniel Park, who judged also this year at the Barastoc Horse Of The Year Show, near Melbourne, was particularly impressed with his mini ponies on Saturday.
Vera Madigan’s Westfirle Diggory Delvet reversed form with last year’s Charleville mini champion, Jenny O’Driscoll’s Amesbury Bumble Bee with Park saying: “The standard was mega and you could see both riders [Verona Madigan and Caitlin O’Driscoll] really enjoyed it, the champion was a cracking little rider.”
Six-year-old Verona, who regularly competes cross-country with her 2013 Dublin lead rein winner, set off to Tipperary Hunt Pony Club’s camp this week, accompanied by the mannerly Charleville champion.
Another versatile pony enjoying a tremendous season is Penyffnon Ricochet, by Llanarth Aristocrat out of a Welsh C dam. The distinctive bay roan clocked up another show hunter championship with owner Martha McNamara’s daughter Amy, on board.
Her younger sister Chloe continued the family’s good day with a reserve title in the starter stakes championship, won by Liam Ruttle’s Bronheulog Sunny Boy. “What stands out are the children. Even if they don’t win, they take disappointment in the right spirit,” remarked judge Anthony Williams.
The Connemara classes received a major boost by hosting the inaugural Crowley Engineering All Ireland youngstock championship, won by Linda O’Donovan’s Caherross Duchess, a two-year-old filly by Glencarrig Knight. Her dam Moorland Snowy Queen provided Linda’s daughter Emily with a red rosette on her young handlers class debut.
Margaret O’Neill enjoyed a clean sweep too, capped by her consistent winner Lickeen Finnbar being selected as David Ringer’s overall champion.
“He was outstanding. It was a great pleasure to judge here and to see so many nice Connemaras. They are the most delightful and best all-purpose pony in the world,” added the visiting Suffolk judge.
Vincent O’Driscoll’s new purchase at Cork Show paid off when Meadowmor Polly Pocket, produced by Andy Collins won the youngstock title and Tianora cup, named after the Nagle family’s great mare. Standing reserve was a none-too-disappointed Dermot Horgan, with his winning broodmare Rotherwood Top Of The Pops, as the three-year-old champion is by his own stallion Astral Heartbreaker.
“By the time you got to the championships, there were some very nice ponies to choose from,” said Jennifer Stephens, who bred the prolific working hunter pony Midnight Shadow, competed with great success by eventer Alice Clapham. By the thoroughbred sire West Partisan, his Bubbly-bred dam was sourced by Stephens from the late Gus Keane whose local show at Killusty takes place today.
Interestingly, the visiting judges’ feedback on the British pony breeding scene was that while there was still a good demand for show and working hunter ponies, and particularly for eventing types, show pony breeders are cutting back.
An expanded showground meant the trademark Charleville bank was absent this year from Peter Molloy’s course, but Sally Sweeney’s Jack Magic, by the Swedish-bred Jack Of Diamonds, mastered the 153cms novice class and then stood working hunter champion.
The day belonged to Penffynon Richochet though who was called forward as the Joe Carroll-sponsored supreme pony champion, with Diggory Delvet as reserve.
Sunday is traditionally devoted to horse classes with the obliging local Gardai on traffic control from an early hour. Russell Cowley’s Cloneyhea Peas, by his own Cork Arthur stallion, Arthurs Gold won the feature broodmare class, sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland and then the overall broodmare championship.
Standing reserve was another homebred in P.J Lehane’s Lux Z three-year-old P.J’s Dream, while the Oldenburger sire OBOS Quality produced both the champion and reserve foals. The champion, already qualified for The Irish Field breeders championship with her Ghareeb dam, is owned by Clare raider, Stephen Culliney.
Tom Clancy’s colt took the reserve title and appropriately on Hickstead Derby day, his dam is from the same family as John Popely’s Derby winning mare, Bluebird.
Regina Daly’s yearling Keamore Reward, by Financial Reward out of an Ard Allez Cat dam, won the young horse championship and with John Burchill’s two-year-old class winner an absentee, the reserve title went to Seamus Lehane’s Ballard Wiseguy from that class.
This area has produced some famous hunter champions and with many Dublin entrants vying for the coveted Paddy Ball cup, Val Hyde’s lightweight class winner The Publisher won the hotly-contested hunter championship. Standing reserve was the previous day’s intermediate champion, Avril Riordan’s Castlemyles Kilkea Castle with the pair turning out again to win the small hunter class.